Apr 19 (News On Japan) - As Japan enters the era of 100-year lifespans, attention is turning to ways to maintain a youthful appearance and healthy body without relying on costly treatments or devices. One growing trend is facial muscle training — a method of exercising the face to address sagging skin, wrinkles, and double chins, all without the use of tools or surgery.
The concept is simple: just as muscles in the body can be trained through exercise, the face — composed of dozens of muscles — can also be strengthened. With consistent training, practitioners report visible improvements within a week.
Facial aging often begins subtly. The eyelids may begin to droop, eyes appear smaller, the skin begins to sag, and the area between the nose and upper lip elongates. These changes, often attributed to gravity and age, are now being targeted through deliberate facial movements that engage underused muscles.
One basic routine starts with warming up the face: pursing the lips, stretching the cheeks, widening the eyes, and sticking out the tongue. These exercises aim to improve blood flow and lymphatic circulation, while also boosting expressiveness. Health benefits are also noted, particularly among seniors, as these movements may help stimulate swallowing muscles and reduce the risk of aspiration.
For sagging eyelids, exercises focus on activating the levator palpebrae superioris, a muscle located above the eyeball responsible for lifting the eyelid. People are often unaware of this muscle and instead rely on raising their eyebrows to open their eyes — a habit that can deepen forehead lines. By isolating the correct muscle, the eyes can be opened more effectively without straining other parts of the face.
To combat the flattening of the face and sagging cheeks that come with age, focus shifts to the zygomaticus major muscle. This area controls the lifting of the corners of the mouth. Training involves smiling in a way that raises the cheeks while keeping the jaw relaxed. Practicing this regularly helps define facial contours and contributes to a more youthful look.
Another area of concern is the region around the mouth. As people age, the area below the nose tends to elongate and the lips become thinner. Exercises targeting the orbicularis oris — the ring-like muscle surrounding the mouth — involve tightly pursing the lips and stretching them outward, promoting a fuller appearance and restoring balance to facial proportions.
Practitioners say these movements not only enhance appearance but also improve facial function. By engaging muscles typically underutilized in daily life, the face becomes more expressive and dynamic. Some participants even notice improved skin tone and color after just a few sessions.
Facial muscle training is gaining traction as a practical, low-cost approach to self-care. With just a few minutes of daily effort, individuals of all ages — including those in their 50s and beyond — can experience positive changes in their appearance.
The message is clear: facial aging is not inevitable, and it is never too late to begin reversing its signs.
Source: KTV NEWS
